Free to shine
Shiny & Free
I am starting this thread to keep debate away from some other threads about people newly out of scientology.
People are starting to roll out of scientology at a faster and faster rate. The snowball is gaining momentum. There are more and more people posting their "Doubt Forumlas" and "Statements of Independence", many of these on Rathbun's site.
As I mentioned on another thread, this is probably mostly due to it being the only widely read venue that will welcome them rather than rip them to shreds.
I cringe when I see another thread here about someone who has left. Are they going to be attacked, made fun of, is the thread going to run into an intense debate about some view on Hubbard or the tech that will make the newly out look stupid?
There was a great controversy here some time back when the "be nice to newbies" issue was raised. Certain parties seemed to want to make any understanding of Indies or newly outs to be about Marty taking over this board or some such crap.
The thing is, Emma wrote her Hope for This Board in January 2007, when it started. I'm going to repost it below - please ... can we live up to her hope? I am very anti tech, anti Hubbard, anti scientology, but I am very PRO people leaving scientology with as little distress as possible. God knows it's hard enough without the reception some have had here.
People are starting to roll out of scientology at a faster and faster rate. The snowball is gaining momentum. There are more and more people posting their "Doubt Forumlas" and "Statements of Independence", many of these on Rathbun's site.
As I mentioned on another thread, this is probably mostly due to it being the only widely read venue that will welcome them rather than rip them to shreds.
I cringe when I see another thread here about someone who has left. Are they going to be attacked, made fun of, is the thread going to run into an intense debate about some view on Hubbard or the tech that will make the newly out look stupid?
There was a great controversy here some time back when the "be nice to newbies" issue was raised. Certain parties seemed to want to make any understanding of Indies or newly outs to be about Marty taking over this board or some such crap.
The thing is, Emma wrote her Hope for This Board in January 2007, when it started. I'm going to repost it below - please ... can we live up to her hope? I am very anti tech, anti Hubbard, anti scientology, but I am very PRO people leaving scientology with as little distress as possible. God knows it's hard enough without the reception some have had here.
What this board is:
A place where ex scientologists and interested general public can get together to discuss various experiences in Scientology.
A place where where ex's and non ex's can mingle and chat and get to know how the other half think and live.
A place to learn from each other.
A place to support each other.
A place to swap ideas and suggestions.
A place to civilly debate issues so that other viewpoints can be offered and tossed around and horizons can be broadened.
A place to be allowed to defend your position and not apologise for it, yet at the same time allow others to have their own.
A place that people feel safe to expose the abuses of this harmful cult, so the true story can be told.
A place where newly "out" Scientologists can come and be heard and learn and be supported through a really tough period in their lives.
A place to make people laugh and have some fun and to not take it all so seriously.
A place to expose the traps and pitfalls in returning to a "normal" existance, and to learn some tips and helpful suggestions in making this transition.
What this board isn't:
A vehicle to exact verbal revenge on those who have harmed us both inside and outside of Scientology. By that I mean continuing to trade insults & flame wars that are a hang over from past relationships, fueds from other messageboards, chat channels etc.
A place to blame and crucify others for what happened to you. Over time there are going to be people who find other ex members who they feel were responsible for some cruelty that was bestowed on them. Whilst this is understandable, and needs to be addressed, it needs to be understood that EVERYONE did things in Scientology of which they are not proud.
A place to ridicule "believers". People find their way out of the Scientology mindset at different speeds and to different degrees. What they need is understanding, not to be fobbed off and called a "stoopid clam" etc.
http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?264-My-hope-for-this-board&p=725743#post725743